MANILA -- Acer said Thursday it expected revenues to "triple" in the Philippines, where a fast-growing gaming industry is helping sustain demand for desktop and laptop computers that have come under pressure from mobile devices elsewhere in the world.

Electronic games such as DOTA have "overtaken" the National Basketball Association in some markets in terms of popularity, highlighting the industry's potential, said Acer honorary chairman Stan Shih.

Shih said revenues would double and even "triple" in some areas. The company has been in Southeast Asia since 1983.

Taiwan-based Acer is serving demand for gaming computers both for desktop and laptop computers, he said.

In the Philippines, DOTA has become a competitive sport, luring teenagers into boot camps on the promise of million-peso paydays.

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